I'm grateful

hey there

I rarely do non-crafty posts because...well, frankly I'm never sure if it's what anyone wants to read/see, but it's my blog so I can do what I want to right?! lol

This past week has been one of *those* weeks. It just feels like every time I think things are 'levelling out' or going back to 'normal', that something ELSE goes wrong, some other barrier gets in the way, some annoyance crops up. You know the ones.
You know when you read peoples blogs/tweets and they just WAKE you up and LIFT you up?? That's how it is for me with Ali Edwards and Stephanie Howell. They teach me, they move me. They make me grateful.

Then last night before bed, i read THIS post by the amazing Stephanie. Now, not only is she an amazing crafter, she's mama to 4 BEEEUTIFUL girls, husband to a military man and so humble (and SO FUNNY) that you can't help but love her. I seriously do NOT know how she does it, but she does--and with a bucketload of grace might I add. As I went to sleep I thought about all the things I'm grateful for :)

Today was another one of *those* days, where one little annoying thing after another lined up to poke me in the eye (if you know what i mean lol) and I just about sunk into the duldrums. Then I remembered how Steph's post made me feel and I decided to take all my annoyances and frustrations, and try to turn them into a positive. (TRY being the operative word).

So I wrote down some, and I'll be adding a few here:

I'm grateful for the neverending sink full of dishes to wash and dry--because it means we've had enough food to eat.
I'm grateful for the garbage truck who's brakes are screeching as it roams my neighbourhood emptying our overflowing bins--because it means we've had TOO MUCH.
I'm grateful for my daughters screaming, playing, yelling at each other and generally tiring me out--because it means they are healthy, alive and MINE.
I'm grateful that I have weight I want to lose, for it means I have eaten too much, not TOO LITTLE. *though I do plan on losing it :)*
I'm grateful for my broken vaccuum cleaner--because it means I have a home to clean.
I'm grateful that I hate my husbands' work hours--because it means he has a job.
I'm grateful that I never have the "right" embellishment for my scrapbooking layout/card--because it means my life is bountiful enough that I have a hobby.
I'm grateful for the lousy $200 we got for our smashed up car when the wrecker came to take it--because it wasn't my husbands' life insurance cheque if HE'D been the thing wrecked and not the car he drove.
I'm grateful for when my internet goes out--because it means I have (online and far away) friends who I'm anxious and excited to talk to again soon.
I'm grateful that I hate all my cheap, ratty clothes--because I have something to clothe myself in.
I'm grateful that my daughter talks my ear off instead of having an afternoon nap--because it means she has interests and opinions
I'm grateful for the (stupid) argument I had with my hubs the other day--because it means I have the freedom to speak.
I'm grateful for people being ridiculous and thoughtless and selfish--because it means I know that those things are NOT right, rather than the norm.
I'm grateful for the stinking plants in our front yard that just keep growing back again and again, because it means that they (and we) have water, food and somewhere to grow.


I'm grateful for a lot of things.  Even though I might not show it enough. I am.

I'm grateful for my family and my home. I'm grateful for my friends--especially the ones who are as weird as I am lol (you know who you are). I'm grateful that despite the fact that all of my friends are VERY far away from me, I know theyre 'there' for me too:) I'm even grateful for my pair of stinky dogs who REALLY need a bath and to stop waking me up at 4am EVERY DAY to go out to pee--but I doubt they read my blog, so they wont know to stop.

I'm grateful for my blog and its readers (that's YOU!).

What are you grateful for?

*love*

Linda xxx